The Indianapolis journal., 1887-12-29
THOUGHTS OF EDUCATORS
Discussion by Indiana Teachers of Mat
ters Relating to Their Work.
What Has Been Accomplished by the State AS
sociation of Teachers-Subjects Considered
by the Various Sections Yesterday.


From a small number of pioneer backwoods
teachers in 1853 it has grown to be representa-
tive body aggregasing membership of nearly
one thousand. As it has grown in influence.
it has drawn to its organization the best
educational talent in the State, and from
it's deliberations have resulted the enactment
of many of the laws governing educational mat
ters. Among these was the law creating county
superintendents and providing county institutes,
both of which features are now embraced in the
laws of nearly every State. Its latest
move for increasing the efficiency of teach
the organization, four years, ago of
the Indiana Teachers Reading Circle, which en-
braces in its membership nearly every teacher
in the State. The four-years course of study
provides text books on subjects for professional
teaching. which were unknown to a majority of
the teachers until the organization was formed.
The success of the movement is spoken of with
enthusiasm by the older instructors. Another
movement which will be brought before the
sociaton to-day will be the organization OF
''Children's Reading Circle. p"
c. w. Hodgn, of Earlham College. who joined
the association in 1860, in speaking of it, said:
II can well remember when we used to meet in
the old State house. The teachers would come.
wearing rawhide boots into which their panta-
looms were stuffed. Not much courtesy
shown to the chair at that time. The mem
bers would elevate their feet upon the desks
rance. Indeed, they formed pret-
~ rough looking crowd. Their transfer
nation to the splendid looking body
you at present speaks for itself, the i'm
provement IN appearance which Indiana teach
ers have undergone in the last twenty-seven
years" Among the ''old timers" present who
Waltz. j. T. Merrill. W. A. Bell, Sheridan Cox,
and Mrs Cox, President J. j. Mills, G. w.
Eodgin. Mrs. Mont McRae, and others. The
thirty-four annual session of the association
began last evening at Plymouth Church. and
will continue to- day and Friday. closing to-mor-
row night.
The retiring president, C. W. Hodgin, of
Earlham College, in a graceful three minutes
talk spoke of the good work the association has
done during the past thirty four years and of
the many pleasant experiences he had enjoyed
He concluded his remarks by saying that he
was the first member who had ever bad the hon
or of introducing a lady president. Mrs. Emma
Mont McRae, of Purdue University, the pres
dent-elect, then stepped to the rostrum and de-
livered carefully prepared inaugural address,
the theme of which was What Man
in the solution of every problem with
which education deals it is necessary
to recognize the constitution of human nature.
On this depends the efforts of the successful
teacher. Many changes in Development are to
be noted The tendency present is for more
liberty, and the cry OF Caliban is repeated.
u u.
Education is the work of lifetime. and its close
marks the commencement of a new exist
ence. Teaching cannot be done by skilful man
ipulation, but must be conscientious work The
highest work OF teacher is the awakening of
Inspiration, and to be prepared for this they
should approach nearer and nearer to the divine.
Teachers need social culture, TO lead them away
from the ruts which their profession entails.
But in the selection of the sharers of
social life, should ask whether they
will draw US nearer to a realization of the great
hrnf nf ms N lee
life, and constitutes unconscious charm in
the literature OF the great poets. 1t is easy to
say that the idenl character embraces honesty.
virtue and plety, but the practical question is
it's realization, and in this integrity of word
and deeds often renders precept useless. The
time is rapidly coming when it will be de-
manded of teacher that he be man of af-
fairs and not merely imparter of textbook
ideas. He must be rounded and symmetrical
full of subject, and a master of whatever he
touches
Following Mrs. McRae's address came the
miscellaneous business. aud here was precipi-
tated the old trouble of selecting a nominating
committee. which should the officers for
the ensuing year. On this point there has been
considerable feeling for number of years.
The nominating committee is composed of thir-
teen members. representing each congressional
district Prof. j. n. Study moved to amend
the constitution to tho effect that each member
of the committee be nominated by a majority of
ing the matter before the whole as
sembly. This brought A. w. Bell, of the
School Journal. and several other obiectors,
to the floor, and after a somewhat unusual ma
of parliamentary rules the motion
was laid on the table. Mr. Bell then advocated
q motion to have the nomination made at once
in the good old way. This too, failed, and a
motion was finally carried whereby the presd-
ing officer appointed a representative from each
congressional district call meeting of all the
m em bers Of mis- district and decide upon their
candidate and report at o'clock this afternoon.
Upon request of the treasurer d. e. Hunter, an
auditing committee, consisting of Messrs. Barr,
Waits and Elson. was appointed After this the
meeting adjourned until o'clock this morning.
The programme for this evenings session will
be as follows: Needed Changes in the School
Economy of Indiana" James A. Woodburn
associate professor of rhetoric and imposition,
Indiana University; discussion opened by Geo.
Z. Felts, superintendent of Allen county
schools: Literary Work in the Grades" Mrs.
Lizzie s. Byers, State Normal school; discussion;
music. Afternoon-Appon ntment of committee
On officers; paper, Educational Psychology" by
Victor G. Anderson, principal of Englewood high
school; discussion opened by Miss n. Cropy,
OF primary instruction of In
1ianapolis schools; music; Teachers Reading
Circle" c. W. Thomas. superintendent Harri-
son county schools discussion opened by l.. z.
Smaley, superintendent Putnam county schools
'Chlldren's Reading Circle" Joseph Carhart,
professor of rhetoric and English literature, De-
Pauw University; discussion.
Eveping-Lecture by David Swing, of Chi
,aeo. Subject, '"The Place of the Novel Among
Books"
Session of the High-SchooI Teachers.
When W. W. Byers. the president, yesterday
morning called the high school section of the In
LLAMA State Teachers Association to order,
here was an attendance of one hundred
oers. and Of these the ladies seemed to predomi-
nate. The programme of the meeting this year
was prepared under entirely regime.
For some years past the programme feature has
been in the hands Of clique, one Of the mem
,srs expressed it. and all matters of honor or
distinction were distributed to few fayortes.
This became very distasteful to the main body
If workers, and three of the papers to be read at
his meeting were selected from competitive
examination. An examining committee ap-
pointed. composed of W. j. Bryan, of Indiana
University; DIR. John S. Irwin superintendent
# the Fort Wayne schools, and Ruth Morris, of
,he State Normal School, and to it were sub
nitted papers by the different high-school teach
rs of the State. OF these the followi ng re-
.sived the highest grades: Miss Lille J. Martin.